Chapter 60

―― The demon race, they are a clan that resides in the demon world, a place beyond the vast ocean, outside the continent where we live.

They are a disaster-like existence, occasionally appearing in human history, leaving a significant mark before disappearing whimsically.

Recently, they appeared over thirty years ago, and the great magician of the time led a large army to confront them.

After a fierce battle, they were barely repelled, but the magician died, the army was nearly destroyed, and several countries were annihilated.

According to the records of that time, it is written as follows:

"――Possessing high magic and a robust physique, they wield terrifying power... right? So, the demons are the subordinates of the demon race?"

"Hah, don't say such foolish things. We are nothing but slaves to them, or rather, like livestock. Most of the demons on this continent have escaped from there. I am one of them, too."

Grimo said this as if spitting it out.

"Demons have ranks from first to tenth. I am third rank, and Pazuzu is eighth. The difference in rank directly reflects the difference in combat power. ...However, the demon race is a different existence altogether. Even if you gathered a hundred first-rank demons, they wouldn't stand a chance against the demon race. To put it simply, demons are commoners, and the demon race are nobles. They are few in number but possess overwhelming power. Even if it's Lord Lloyd, the odds are too poor..."

Hmm, so they are a group that can make Grimo say such things.

The demon race must have some incredible techniques.

It sounds quite interesting.

"Wow, I'm getting really excited!"

"R-really?"

Grimo interjected.

Did I have such a look on my face? ...Maybe I did.

"Anyway, he's dangerous! It's better to run away quickly!"

"Oh, I sense something strange... Are you harboring a demon within you? And not just being controlled, but rather, commanding it. What a pitiful demon. As a fellow inhabitant of the demon world, I am ashamed."

He muttered as he descended the stairs.

"What is your name?"

"Hmm... Fine. You don't seem to be just a pig. You have the right to know my name. My name is Gizarum Leil Valgenbach. As the demon there said, I am a proud member of the demon race."

"Proud, huh. Those who look down on others without thought are just lacking in confidence. They are empty vessels with an inflated sense of self-importance. A truly proud person would never look down on someone of lower status. ...By the way, this is my educational philosophy."

Silfa often told me this.

Well, in my previous life, I was a commoner, so I never looked down on others.

Gizarum's lips curled into a distorted smile at my words.

"...You say that. Fine. Now, you have the obligation to entertain me. I will do as I please, but—don't die too easily, okay?"

Gizarum slowly raised his fingertips.

What is it? His fingertips felt strange.

Focusing, I saw Gizarum's fingertips glowing black.

In an instant, a black light stretched towards my chest.

It was some kind of attack!? But the magic barrier didn't automatically deploy!?

Normally, it should react to any attack and immediately deploy the magic barrier.

Yet, it didn't react at all. What kind of principle is this?

For a moment, I felt the urge to take the hit, but then I noticed the soldier possessed by a demon right behind me.

Alright, let's have him take it. Here we go.

"Kyaah!?"

The black light pierced the soldier's chest.

The soldier's body trembled and then fell, motionless.

"...Is he dead?"

I kicked him with my foot, but he didn't move.

I tried using 'Identify' and saw that there were no external injuries or bleeding, only the heart had cleanly stopped.

"Even if a demon is inside, the base is still human. If the host dies, the demon will also lose its life."

Mmm, what a guy, killing his subordinates.

Well, I did avoid it.

"Putting that aside... the attack just now, it looked like you just released magic."

"Yes, that's correct. The demon race can control the magic in the atmosphere at will... I probably just willed it to 'die.'"

In other words, the ability to cause phenomena directly without using a spell.

The reason why Taria's self-inflicted damage, Crow's curse, and Ren's poison mist can't be blocked by a magic barrier is that they are not manifested through a spell in this world.

If magic is compared to water, the magic barrier is like a sieve. It can block solid objects, but water can pass through.

"I see, so Gizarum's control of magic is like an enhanced version of Ren's abilities."

"What...?"

Gizarum reacted to my words.

"Did I just hear something intolerable... Are you saying my power is the same as those pigs'?"

"Is it different?"

"Completely different!"

The calm tone from earlier was gone, and Gizarum suddenly became agitated.

"This is the technique of the proud demon race! It is presumptuous to even compare it with the abilities of those pigs! The 'magic' you call it is merely a degraded version of the power we, the demon race, use!"

"Hey, that's not fair. Magic has made great progress compared to the past. Don't belittle it too much."

"Hah... Magic control through spells? It's nothing but a monkey's imitation, a child's trick! Then, try to counter my power with your so-called magic!"

Gizarum's lips twisted, and he began to gather magic throughout his body.

Then, he released it.

The magic hit the ground at my feet, forming a sharp blade and extending towards me.

"Whoa!"

But materialized magic can be blocked by a magic barrier.

As I easily deflected it, I saw the magic at my feet gather into a point.

It formed a thick spear-like mass and thrust at me.

This is strong. I can't block it with a magic barrier.

Then, I will counter it.

"Shock Rock Fang"

A giant rock fang emerged from the ground at my feet.

The rock fang collided with the magic spear and canceled each other out.

"Hmm, do you think it ends there?"

Gizarum moved his fingertips, and the shattered magic spear reformed.

Hmm, that's quick. I can't counter it with magic in time.

The approaching magic spear pierced through the automatically deployed magic barrier.

With a series of activations, five magic barriers were destroyed in quick succession.

Then—thud!—it hit my chest.

"Lloyd!?"

Ren cried out in distress.

But there's nothing to worry about.

The magic spear from earlier was blocked by a different magic barrier.

A magic barrier that activates just a few millimeters before the skin, which is dozens of times harder due to the constraint of activating at the last moment.

It's like a strong magic barrier.

It just hurt a bit when it hit the magic barrier.

"Hmm, to block my magic spear... But it's not just one spear."

"What...?"

As I was about to speak, my heart throbbed.

This is...? Seeing me place my hand on my chest, Gizarum smiled.

"The magic spear was a double-edged weapon. One to pierce physically, and one to pierce the heart."

I see, Gizarum combined the magic he willed to 'die' with the magic spear from earlier.

I can feel my heart gradually weakening.

And then, it stopped beating.

"Lord Lloyd!? No, could it be... D-did he die!? Lord Lloyd—!"

"Ahahaha! For all your big talk, you were nothing! Well, it was a bit entertaining. A little, but still! Ahahaha! Hahahaha!"

Gizarum's laughter echoed around.

After laughing for a while, Gizarum suddenly turned his gaze to me, who was standing still.

"...Why don't you fall?"

"Because there's no need to."

"What!?"

As I replied, Gizarum's shoulders trembled.

He jumped back, putting some distance between us.

"Lord Lloyd! Are you alright! But how...?"

"I cast 'Resurrection' beforehand."

―The healing magic 'Resurrection'.

There are magic spells in the healing system that have instant death effects.

'Resurrection' was created to counter these.

It forces a stopped heart to beat again, reviving the person.

It doesn't bring the dead back to life, but if used immediately on someone whose heart has stopped, it can revive them with a high probability.

The attack earlier only stopped my heart, so I thought this would work.

Hmm, I undid the spell, and the heart seems to be working fine.

"Y-You... You made a stopped heart beat again...?"

Gizarum's face was one of shock.

In the end, the power of the demon race, despite not using spells, doesn't seem much different from magic.

If that's the case, there are many countermeasures in modern, advanced magic.

"...Your power is simpler than I thought."

"...!"

At my words, Gizarum's eyes widened.

Veins appeared on his temples.